Russ Dennis, Jr., 36

By Paul Anthony Arco

Rockford-native Russ Dennis, Jr., didn’t have any plans to join the family business until he and his father had a conversation about the pressures on a small business to develop and offer new technologies. Dennis felt his calling, so he left his job at the Sherwin Williams Company in Chicago, where he had gained managerial training and expertise, and came home to work for his father’s company.

Leading Edge Hydraulics is a manufacturer of hydraulic tube assemblies and fittings to the off highway and mobile hydraulics industry. Dennis, 36, is vice president and chief information officer of the company, which has grown from 55 to 125 employees since 2002. The company now has expanded services globally and is pursuing a presence in Sweden through the industrial partnership agreement between Rockford and Lidköping, Sweden.

Dennis also spends considerable time giving back to his community. He watched his late grandfather struggle with his fight against diabetes. After losing that battle in the late 1980s, his grandson vowed to help other people suffering from the disease.

“I watched him become consumed by it,” Dennis says. “I wanted to find a way to help educate people and find a cure.”

That’s why Dennis, who is married to Cheryl and has two daughters, Katelyn and Sara, is involved with the Rockford Cosmopolitan Club, a nationwide service organization whose primary effort is to fight diabetes. Dennis is the past president of the local chapter and was recently installed as governor of the Midstates Federation, and will be acting as an international board member. Dennis received the award for International President of the Year, the first time a Rockford native was given the honor. He also was in charge of the organization’s Website, which received International Website of the Year for three straight years.